Is it cheaper to live in Canada or the US?

Canada is modestly cheaper than the US on monthly cost-of-living averages, but Vancouver specifically is one of the higher-cost Canadian cities and the US comparison gets closer there. Vancouver moderate is $2,875 per person per month versus the US national average of $3,275, a gap of about $400 a month (roughly 12 percent). Calgary at $2,175 and Toronto at $2,600 both undercut the US average more clearly. The composition of spend matters: Canadian housing is generally pricier per square foot in major metros than equivalent US metros, but the no-out-of-pocket healthcare line, lower gun-violence-related insurance and security costs, and lower prescription drug costs offset much of the gap for households. Tax wedges are higher in Canada at most income brackets. For a Vancouver-to-US comparison specifically, Vancouver is dramatically cheaper than San Francisco or NYC and modestly cheaper than Seattle or Boston. For the full breakdown, see our Vancouver cost of living page.